Lebanon–Turkey relations

Turkey-Lebanon relations

Lebanon
Turkey

Turkish-Lebanese relations are the diplomatic relations between the Republic of Turkey and the Republic of Lebanon. Lebanon has an embassy in Ankara and a consulate general in Istanbul. Turkey has an embassy in Beirut.

Although matters between Ankara and Beirut have never been tense, relations between Turkey and Lebanon have mostly been coldly dormant owing to the former's quietness towards the Second Intifada because of its' closeness to Israel. However, relations between the two countries have the hope of thickening because of Recep Tayyip Erdogan's actions during the Offensive in Gaza. Also, the two nations are connected through history because Lebanon gained independence from Ottoman Syria.[1]

Historical relations

The Ottoman Empire, which controlled Lebanon as part of Syrian Vilayat, had Lebanon as the most diverse region in the Ottoman Empire. There was several ethnic and religious tensions, notably the infamous 1860 Mount Lebanon civil war which devastated Lebanon and the Ottoman further imposed strict rule in Lebanon.

Modern relations

Competing with Iran

The Turkish Government under Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has perceived the Hezbollah, a Shi’a militant group backed by Iran with a negative perception, based on historical trauma in Lebanon and the threat to Turkish legacies in Lebanon. Thus Turkey has sought to maintain closer tie with Lebanon, to dismantle Iranian influence inside Lebanon. The influx of Hezbollah fighters coming to Syria fighting against Turkey-backed Free Syrian Army[2] is also the reason why Turkey tries to establish stronger ties with Lebanon in order to weaken Iran's role in Lebanon.

Armenian Genocide

Lebanon was the first Arab state to recognize the Armenian Genocide in 2000, which is denied by Turkey. As such, this has put the relationship between two nations suffered a low point.

See also

References


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